Power, roads still a problem

Many area roads throughout Wayne County still remain blocked by debris or closed to allow crews to safely repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

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Wayne Independent - Honesdale, PA

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Posted Nov. 3, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Posted Nov. 3, 2012 at 12:00 AM

WAYNE COUNTY

— Many area roads throughout Wayne County still remain blocked by debris or closed to allow crews to safely repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

PPL Electric Utilities, in a press release out Friday, announces "75 percent of Hurricane Sandy outages" have been restored.

Utility officials also said the said the goal "remains to restore power to 80 to 85 percent of all affected customers" across the system by 11 p.m. Friday night.

The goal for Lehigh Valley, parts of Bucks and Montgomery counties, the Poconos and northeast Pennsylvania is to have power restored to those areas by Sunday, Nov. 4 at 11 p.m.

If there are customers that are not expected to get power back by 11 p.m. Sunday, they will be notified.

By noon Friday, "113,000 customers remained out of service" across the 10,000-square-mile service area.

Crews have finished with work in both the Harrisburg and Lancaster regions.

“Crews are moving into the harder-hit areas in the eastern part of our service territory when work in other areas is complete,” said Dave Bonenberger, vice president of Distribution Operations for PPL Electric Utilities. “We ask those who remain without power for their continued understanding. This is an immense repair effort, with much more hard work ahead.”

In Wayne County, as of press time Friday, 14,665 PPL customers had their power restored, with 7,564 customers still without power.

According to a reader in Texas Township, Old Willow Avenue has a large tree down blocking the roadway that has yet to be repaired.

The Wayne County Children's Christmas Bureau, in response to Sandy will be holding an additional day of sign ups. The last day will be Monday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.

If your family is in need of assistance, please bring these items with you in order to sign up: You must bring a current utility bill (within last 30 days). A driver’s license is not acceptable. No applications will be accepted without proof of Wayne County residency.

Social Security numbers for all children. (You must have physical custody of your children). To register your children they must be between the ages of newborn – 16 years.

If you do not have the required information you will not be able to register your children at that time.

To register, go to the Chamber of Commerce building. Please enter only through the Community Room entrance. Signs will be posted on the door.

You will be given your pickup date and time when you sign up. Distribution of gifts will be on Sunday, Dec. 2.

This year, they will be at the Park Street Complex located at 648 Park Street, Honesdale (old Stourbridge School cafeteria). Pick-up times will be assigned in advance and are strictly enforced.